Srinagar, Sept. 5 -- Thousands of people were evacuated or moved to safer places after large swathes of land and residential areas were flooded when Jhelum river and its tributaries overflowed and breached its embankments across south and central Kashmir on Thursday. After Jhelum crossed the danger mark in south Kashmir's Sangam and Srinagar's Ram Munshi Bagh, the water level in the river -- meandering from south to north Kashmir through Srinagar -- was still above the danger mark, though slowly receding owing to improvement in weather conditions. Large low lying areas of south Kashmir particularly in Anantnag and Pulwama districts were filled with flood water during the night while Jhelum breached in central Kashmir's Budgam district prompting the authorities to evacuate people to safer locations. Chief minister Omar, after his return from Delhi, immediately took a review of the flood situation along with officials and visited some of the inundated areas in Srinagar. "Owing to rains, the Jhelum level increased and caused a breach flooding (some of) these areas. Thank god, people were evacuated from their homes on time as administration was on ground. There was no loss of life but there has been loss of property," Omar said. Around 9,000 people were evacuated from Budgam district when three villages were flooded due to breach in Zoonipora and Shalina. In the wee hours flood waters had entered Shalina, Rakh Shalina, and Baghi Shakirshah villages due to this breach in the River Jhelum bund near village Zoonipora. However, residents of these villages were safely evacuated during the night to designated rescue centres and safer locations. "Early this morning, breaches occurred in the Jhelum embankments at Zonipora in Budgam, resulting in flooding of nearby areas. However, as a precautionary measure, we had already evacuated around 9,000 people last night, which helped in preventing any loss of life," said Kashmir divisional commissioner Anshul Garg. Garg along with police and deputy commissioners visited the flood affected areas. He added that relief and rescue teams, including personnel from the SDRF, NDRF, police, and revenue departments, are actively engaged in operations in affected low-lying areas, ensuring timely assistance to residents. "So far there has been no loss(of life). We have to remain alert because water level are above the danger level and people need to evacuate where ever our disaster teams are suggesting as such. Relief shelters have been established in safer zones," he said. He further added that the weather conditions have started to improve, especially in south Kashmir, and most areas are currently experiencing clear skies. "Water levels at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh are receding, which is a positive sign," he stated. Pulwama deputy commissioner Basharat Qayoom said that Kadlabal in Pampore was affected by the breach in Jhelum while some 90 other locations were inundated owing to spillover of the river at various places. Chief minister Omar Abdullah sought a relief package from the centre for both J&K divisions affected by the floods. Omar also raised questions to the previous governments and dispensations as to why no steps were taken after the devastating 2014 floods....